Heroism In The Return Of The King

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In The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, heroism is a prominent theme throughout the book and Samwise Gamgee is a perfect example of this theme. Through the second half of the book Sam proves himself an unlikely, but true hero. His loyalty and friendship to Frodo forces him to step up and protect his master. Sam is left alone in Cirith Ungol, when he realizes his master is in trouble and he must rescue him or “perish at the attempt” (Tolkien 181). Even when tempted by the Ring’s power he has the strength to get out of its altering grasp. When Frodo is too weak to make it up Mount Doom, Sam carries Frodo up the mountain, which results in the destruction of the ring and the end of their quest. The second half of the book starts with Sam waking up at Cirith Ungol and doesn’t “[have] any doubt about his duty” that he must rescue his master. He is scared and fears that Frodo is dead but his thoughts of Frodo make him continue on. He braves through the orcs with the Ring and a sword. With the Ring around his neck he scares off the orcs so he is able to find Frodo. When he sees Frodo is in trouble he heroically comes to the rescue:
With a cry Sam leapt across the floor, Sting in hand. …show more content…
Sam starts to have delusions of the power he could have: “He saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword through the darkened land.” He was getting taken away with the same power that all the wearer’s before him did. But unlike them he had the heroic courage that the other didn’t. He was able to take off the ring with the thought of his friend and master. He has the strength the others didn’t. His true “hobbit-sense” (186) went unaltered and he realized he was not big enough to hold such a burden. He stays humble and is just a gardener. Sam is actually one of the best Ring keepers in the journey because he is relatively unaffected by the selfishness it
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